Valve operating mechanism



Dec. 24, 1935D \/v Q BEAM 2,025,264

VALVE OPERATING MECHANI SM Filed March 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 24, 1935.l v, O, BEAM. 2,025,264

VALVE OPERATING' MECHANISM Filed March, 14, 1952 5 SheeLS-Sheer, 2

mig/if Dec. 24, 1935. Y v O, BEAM 2,025,264

VALVE OPERATING MECHANI SM Filed March 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LMA/T Z 36 43 l ik wfg/17% V44 Vig/m mwb Patented Dec. 24, 1935 i UNITED STATES PATENT Y oFFlcE VALVE oPERA'rlNG MECHANTSM tian of Delaware Application March 14, 1932, Serial No. 598,575

\ 9 claims. 101437-139) This invention relates to improvements in valve operating mechanism embodying a prime mover `for opening valves which automatically tend to close when power to the prime mover isrcut off.

The present invention has among its objects to provide a valve operating mechanism for valves of the character.. indicated which shall be relatively simple inconstruction, reliable in operation and otherwise well adapted for its intended purpose.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred form of the invention is shown,-

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the improved valve operating mechanism, the view being .15 taken on line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 21s a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve operating mechanism, the cover being removed and parts `being broken away to more clearly show the con- 20 struction; I

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view showing the position of certain parts of the valve operating mechanism when the valve is held open by a manually operable 25 latch;

Fig.'6 is'a perspective View of the switch mechanism forming part of the valve operatingmechanism;

Fig. 7 is anelectrical diagram of the circuits 30 for operating certain parts of the valve operating mechanism, and l Fig. 8 shows the environment where the im- Y proved valve operating mechanism hasspecial utility, namely, in connection with gas burning 35 apparatus.

In the drawings, 9 indicates a valve casing wherein is positioned a valve I0 which is normally held to its seat by a spring Il the upper end of which bears against a closure plate I2 secured to 40 said casing by a collar nut I3. Coupled to the valve I0 is a stem I4 which slidably extends through the plate I2. f Supported by the plate I2 is a bowl I5 across the top `of which extends ,a leather diaphragm I B and through which latter 45 the stem I4 extends in a gas tight manner,l the diaphragm serving as a seal against the escape from the bowl I5 of such gas as may leak past u the stem I4 where it passes through the plate I2. A ring I 'I clamps the diaphragm to the top ange 50 of said bowl. Supported by and extending upwardly from the bowl I6 are two plates or standards I8 arranged in parallel spaced relation.

Extending between the plates I8 at one sideV upper end of the valve stem I4 as by a yoke 2i. Extending between said plates in vertically spaced lrelation are non-rotatable shafts or rods 22 and 23. Turnably mounted on the rod 22 is a lever arm 24, and connecting the latter with 5 the lever 20 is a link 25. v

Rotatably mounted on the rod 22 is a gear wheell26. `Projecting from one side of said wheel is a crank pin 2l ofa length to extend across the path of movement of said arm 24 as clearly lo shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Consequently when said wheel is turned in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, said pin 27 will engage said arm from below and turn it about the rod 22,l and as a consequence of such turning the arm will turn the lever in a direction to elevate the valve stem I4 whereby to open the valve I0 against the tension of the spring II.

Rotatably mounted on the rod 23 is a sleeve 28 to which are non-rotatably secured a pinion 29 20 and a gear wheel 3B, the former meshing with the gear wheel 26. Rotatably mounted on the rod 22 is a pinion 3I which meshes with the gear wheel 30 and coupled to the pinion 3l for rotation therewith is a gear wheel 32. In mesh with the gear wheel 32 is a pinion 33 non-rotatably secured 'to the armature shaft 34 of an electric motor M, the amature of which is rotatable between pole pieces 35, the electrical winding for which is indicated at 36.y The motor pole pieces 35 are supported by supports 3l and 38 which extend from one of thestandards I8. From the foregoing it will be understood that the gear Wheel 26 is rotated by the motor pinion 33 in a direction to open the valve. 35 Mounted on the motor shaft 34 for rotation therewith is a brake disk 39.' Turnably mounted on the support 38 is a bell crank', (see Fig. 4) one Aarm 40 of which carries a brake shoe 4| for ena gaging with the brake disk 38. The other arm 42 4I)` of said bell crank has secured thereto a resilient extension 43 which pivlitallyi supports an arma- Supported by a'bracket46 secured to plate I8 in an electro magnety generally indicated at 41, the electrical winding for which is indicated at 48; When the electro-magnet is energized the armature shoe 44 is attracted to it with the re- 50 sult that the vbell crank'to which said shoe is attached is actuated and the brake 4I applied to the disk 39. y

Extending between .the plates I8 and supported y thereby is a block so (Figs. 1 am; s) of insuiat- 55 ing material such as hard rubber. Supported by said block and extending therefrom is a rigid switch element 5I having laterally extending contact points 52 and 53. Also secured to said block are two resilient switch elements or blades 54 and 55, the blade 55 extending below its contact 52 and blade 54 extending above its contact 53. Blade 55 is normally open with respect to its contact 52 and blade 54 is normally closed with respect toits contact 53.

The blade 54 is adapted to be opened with respect to its contact 53 by a finger 56 formed as an extension of the link which connects the lever arm 24 and lever 20. The blade 55 is adapted to be closed with respect to itscontact 52 by an arml 51 of a latch lever 58 turnably mounted on a pin 58 supported'by one of the plates I8. A push button 60 mounted in a side wall of the cover 6I is adapted to actuate the latch lever 58.

The lower end of the latch lever 58 is hooked or notched as indicated at 62 in a manner to engage a pin 63 carried by the lever 20, said pin being shown asthe pin which connects the lever/20 and the link 25. 'I'he latch lever 58 has utility when it is desired to manually open the valve I8 by the lever 20, as in -theevent of current failure to the motor M. After the valve has been opened manually as said, the push button 68 is pressed to bring the hooked end 62 of the latch lever 58 below the pin 63 whereby to hold the ,valve open until released either manually or automatically as when power for the motor M is again available, as will more fully appear hereinafter. Fig. 5

shows the position of the parts when the latch 58 is in position to hold the valve open, it being noted that the arm 51 of said latch engages the switch blade 55 in a. manner tohold the latter against its contact 52 and that the finger 56 does not engage the switch blade 54 and consequently the latter remains closed. The power wires, not shown, pass throughan opening 64 in the top ange of the-bowl l5 andare secured to binding posts 65 carried by an insulating panel 66 supported by brackets 61 secured to one of the upright standards I8. The switch elements 5 I, 54 and 55 are appropriately connected by wires, not shown, to'the binding posts 65 and to the motor winding 36 and electro magnet winding 48.

As shown in the electrical diagram in Fig. 7, a low voltage circuit isused for operating the motor M and electro magnet .41, the main line voltage being stepped down by a transformer T. The motor winding 36 and electro magnet Winding 48 are in series with a room thermostat RT which is the prime controller for actuating the valve operating mechanism. 'I'he switch 54 is part of a by-pass circuit around the magnet winding 48, the switch' being closed when the valve I0 is closed. The switch 55 is normally open and is closed only when the valve I0 is held open by the latch 58 in which event the room thermostat is shorted out of the motor and magnet circuits.

When the room thermostat calls for heat it moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. Current thereupon flows through the motor vwinding 36 and throughfthe room thermostat byl way of the circuit containing the switch 54, the electro magnet -48 being by-passed for the time being. Shortly before the motor Mhas fully opened the valve, the switch 54 will be opened by the finger 56 and thereupon the current will iiow through the electro-magnet winding 48 with theresult that the armaturen 44 is attracted and the -brake 4I applied to the brake disk 39 with the result that the valve l0 is held open against the tension of the valve spring Il.

When the switch 54 is opened to place the motor winding 36, the magnet winding 48 and the room thermostat in series, the magnet winding 48 5 oiers such resistance to the ilow of currentr that the motor` winding 36 does not receive suiiicient y current to cause rotation of the motor. When the room thermostat moves to the right, as when there is no call for heat, the circuit to the mag- 10 net winding 48 is broken with consequent release of the brake 4| whereupon the valve spring Il closes the valve,it being understood that the gear train is such as will permit the spring to rotate the gear trains in closing the valve. 15

Assuming now that current is not available to open the valve when the room thermostat calls for heat. The valve may then be opened by hand by the lever 20 and latched in open position by the latch 58 as already explained. In 20 latching the valve open, the switch 55 is closed by the latch arm 51. Referring to Fig. 5,. it will be noted the finger 56 does not open the switch 54 when the vaiv is latched in open position and it will therefore be understood that while for 25 practical purposes the valve I0 is substantially f fully open when the latch 58 is engaged with the pin 63, nevertheless, the lever 28 and parts associated therewith may be moved by the gear wheel 26 a suflicient additional distance to permit 30 the nger 56 to open the switch 54.

Assuming now that current becomes available while the latch 58 is in engagement with the pin 63 on the lever 20. Since both switches 54 and 55 are closed, with the result that the electro- 35` magnet winding 48 and the room thermostat are by-passed, current will ow direct to the motor winding 36 with the result that the motor will rotate in a valve opening direction and lift the pin 63 away from the latch 58 whereupon the latter 40,

will automatically swing to the position shown in Fig. 1 with consequent opening of the switch 55. In this connection it may be noted that the switch 55 being a spring blade will tend to open v and in so doing moves the latch into the position 454 .shown in Fig. l.

The switch 55 will be opened as said, before the nger 56 opens the switch 54. If the room thermostat is closed the motor will continue to operate until the nger 56 has opened the switch 54 whereupon the current passes 50v through the magnet winding 48 with consequent application of the brake 4I and the throttlingoi.' power to the motor M to such degree that for practical'purposes the motor is deenergized even though the winding 36 is in series with the winding 55.

48 ofthe electro-magnet. In case the room thermostat should be in open or in no-call-for heat position when current becomes available, the motor will be momentarily energized since the circuit is through the closed switches 54 and 55, 60 but as soon as the switch 55 is opened by release of the latch 58, the motor circuit will be broken and consequently the valve will automatically close under the tension of the valve spring H.r

It will of course be understood that the valve g5 y in closing will impart rotation to the gear train to which the rotary motor is connected, such rota.- tion being due to the downward force exerted by the arm 24 on the crank pin 21. Since the arm 24 and crank pin 21 are not interconnectedfthere 'w will be no sudden stopping of the gear train, the latter being free to continue its rotation without any eii'ect on the valve, such rotation usually ceas-` ing before the crank pin 21 reaches the top side of the arm24. I'here being no sudden stopping 75j of tlie gear train when the valve comes to its seat, there will of course be no rebound or sudden reversal of movement of the parts tending to lift the valve from its seat.

Referring to Fig. 8, the valve operating mechanism is shown as controlling the admission of gas to a gas burning apparatus of a well known type having a secondary air damper D, the lever 2 0 being shown as coupled by a spring S to the damper for opening and closing the damper as the valve is opened and closed.

What I claim is:

1. Mechanism for operating a valve biased toward closed position comprising in combination with such valve, a wheel crank, an arm turnable on the same axis as said Wheel and extending radially therefrom across the path of travel of the crank, means for simultaneously actuating the valve and the said arm independently of the wheel crank, and means including a rotary motor operable to drive the wheel crank in one direction only.

2. Mechanism for operating a valve biased toward closed position comprising in combination with such valve, a crank, means including a rotary motor operable to drive the crank in une direction only, a pivoted arm disconnected from but extending across the path of travel of said crank in such a manner that the crank may revolve a substantial part of one revolution before engaging with said arm, and means operable by said arm for opening said valve against its bias when the arm is turned by the said crank, the bias of said valve being suicient to close said valve and cause the arm to rotate the crank and motor in reverse direction. i

3. Mechanism for operating avalve biased toward closed position comprising in combination` with such valve, a crank, means including a rotary motor operable to drive the crank in one direction only, a pivoted arm disconnected from but extending across the path' of travel of said crank in such a manner that the crank may revolve a substantial part of one revolution before engaging with said arm, means operable by said arm Yfor opening said valve against its bias when the armv is turned by the said crank, the bias of said valve being suiiicient to close the valve and cause the arm to rotate the crank and motor in reverse direction, and manually operable means adapted to coact with the last named means for holding the valve open.

4. Mechanism for operating a valve comprising in combination, a valve, a crank, means including a rotary motor operable to drive the 'crank in one direction only, a pivoted arm disconnected from but extending across the path of travel of said crank in such a manner that the crank may revolve a substantial part of one revolution before engaging Awith said arm, a lever coupled to said valve, a link connecting the arm and lever whereby the arm when turned by the crank may open said valve, and a spring biasing the valve to closed position and having sufficient power to cause said arm to rotate the crank and motor in reverse direction.

5. Mechanism for operating a valve biased toward closed position comprising in combination with such valve, a crank, means including a rotary motor operable to drive the crank in one dilink, cross-arm, and valve stem when energized rection only, a pivoted arm disconnected from but extending across the path of travel of said lcrank in such a manner that the crank may revconnected to said motor, an ar'm pivoted concentrically with said pivoted member and arranged to be engaged and rota-ted by said member when driven by the motor, and connections between the arm and valve operative to move the valve to its other controlling position when the arm is rotated by said member, the bias of said valve being sumcient to return the valve to its first-mentioned controlling position and simultaneously to rotate the motor and pivoted member in the reverse direction.

7. In combination, a valve, motor means arranged to open the valve when energized and close the valve when deenergized, connections between the motor means and valve including a pivoted cross-arm, a circuit for energizing the motor means, a manually operable member pivoted intermediate its ends, one end of said member being arranged to latch the cross-arm in a position wherein said valve is partially open when the valve is manually operated and the pivoted member manually manipulated, a switch -arranged. to be closed by the other end of said memberwhen `manipulated to valve latching position, and an independent circuit for the motor means con-p trolled by said switch.

8. In combination, a valve biased to closed position, motor means arranged to open the valve l0 when energized and maintain the same in open position against its bias, connections between the motor means and valve including a connecting link, switching means arranged to beoperated by said connecting link, and circuit connections between the switching means and motor means arranged selectively to energize one portion of the motor means to open the valve or to ener- Pgize another portion thereof lto hold the valve open upon operation of the switching means. 50

9. In combination, a valve biased to closed position, a valve stem connected to the valve, a pivoted cross-arm connected to the valve stem, a link connected to the cross-arm, a rotary electrical motor connected to said link and operative to lopen the valve against its bias through the an. electro-magnet arranged to hold the valve open against its bias, two-position switching means located in the path of movement of said G0 link and arranged to be moved from a rst position to a second position when the link is moved to valve open position, a circuit for operatively energizing the motor controlled by the switching meansdn its rst position, a circuit for operatively energizing the electro-magnet controlled by the switching means when in its second position, and a main control switch dominating both said circuits.

VILYNN O. BEAM. 

